TRACK 5 –

“Black Hole Sun!” Justin Belmont screamed. The youngest Belmont floated in the air his familiar miasma surrounding him like black burning liquid fire. It grew in size until it covered the sun behind hit, that was the reason things had gone dark. Satisfied with the amount of AP gathered, Justin smiled cruelly, then raised his fist high.

BLACK HOLE SUN (Level 3) –

“Won’t you come!” He called, flipping mid air and streaking down towards the deck like a demonic avenging angel.

Before the crewmen could react, Justin plunged down into the center of the deck, his AP surrounding him as he hit and then the darkness imploded, sucking in on itself and everything around it. All the enemy fell to the deck as they were pulled inward almost to the point where they were going to crash into Justin. Then, space seemed to pulse and slow for a moment before it erupted out flinging people and Affinity Magic in all directions.

Justin stood up and looked around him at the newly cleared deck, all the crewmen having been launched over the sides, as I walked down from the stern stairwell and met him in the center of ship.

“You’re welcome.” Justin said.

I raised an eyebrow at him and then shook my head.

“Whatever dude.” I replied.

He opened his mouth but whatever he was about to say never came out, as the door to the Captain’s cabin slammed open with a loud crack, grabbing both our attention. Out from the doorway strode a giant of a man. He was so large he had stooped to get out and now standing at his full height was two feet taller than Justin and myself. Our AR-2’s pinged in unison and I looked at the information.

NEO RUS AIR CAPTAIN

“Who the hell are you and what the hell are you doing on my ship!” The Captain roared, then looking around suspiciously seemed to realize he was alone. “Where the hell is my crew?”

“You want to take this one?” I asked, glancing sideways at Belmont.

“Pfft, feel free, this dude doesn’t seem like the brightest star in the sky.” He scoffed.

“What did you say you damned brat?” The monster of a man roared again, and began striding towards the two of us, pulling two axes from his back as he came. “You’re dead, D, E, D, dead!”

“See?” Justin laughed, dropping into a fighting stance and holding his hands up and his Scythe appearing in them, Affinity Power coating the glowing curved purple-black blade.

“I hate agreeing with you.” I responded, dropping into my own stance and activating Fire and Ice once again. “But, yeah, he’s a dumbass, let’s finish this up, times running out.”

“Don’t tell me what…” Justin started to argue.

“Graaahhhh!” The Captain roared, cutting Justin off and banging his axes together, then flaring his AP and rushing us.

The humungous man covered half the distance in a flash, the deck shook with each stomp of his massive foot, it was like an earthquake, the way the ship rocked.

“Heyyyyy youuuu guyyyssss!” A familiar voice rang out, catching all three of our attention.

I turned to see a group of ABBA’s heading our way and they were coming in hot. All of them were moving so fast I almost couldn’t tell who it was, but my AR-2 helped. I recognized the RKP and SNES students along with the Sophomores who went to save them. Blake and Lancelot were in the lead, both burning with AP, and they jumped off their boards in unison at the NRE Captain, Superman style. The two boys were mirror images of each other, Blake with his right fist extended and Lancelot with his left, flew towards the Captain, who turned just in time to see the two students.

The big Neo Rus officer’s eyes widened comically as Blake’s glowing purple black fist and Lancelot’s shining silver gauntlet smashed into both sides of his face. My senses were in overdrive due to activating my level three skill and I watched the attack in slow motion. The Captains face seemed to collapse in itself as the fists struck, his cheeks flapping backward like a skydiver’s, and his head rocked back followed by the rest of his massive body.

I released my Affinity Power and watched as the NRE Captain flew sideways, first his head then the rest of his body, all the way off the ship and out into the bright blue sky. Justin had powered down as well and we both watched the big man go until he was out of sight. Blake and Lancelot landed and high fived, while nodding and grinning at one another like best buddies.

“Nice one old chap.” Lancelot said.

“You to man.” Blake replied, as they high fived again, then he turned to Justin and me. “Pretty cool right little bro?”

“That guy was mine Blake.” Justin scoffed, putting his scythe away and scowling at his older brother.

“Jeez, take a chill pill little bro.” Blake said, laughing and sharing a look with Lancelot.

Just then Tuki and Commander reappeared.

“Hey boss, all done.” Tuki said, at my shoulder. “Commander is a right snake, but he did his job as well. I know you said to disable the engines and weapons but both of us decided to just take them over, I mean the NRE AP systems are super primitive compared to ours.”

“Good job buddy, that changes things.” I told him, as the rest of the students landed on the deck.

I strode forward and relayed the information that Tuki told me, Justin reiterated it with Commander, and new plans were made.

“Robyn can you fill Anna in.” I asked the AI. “Oh, can you also interface with all the rest of the students? I think it’s time.”

“Done and done.” He replied.

“Wow, that was fast.” I said, looking around the ship and seeing everyone pausing and accessing their AR-2’s.

“What do you expect Hiro? I’m a super advanced Affinity Intelligence with the processing power of…” Robyn began, but paused in his self-praise for a moment before continuing. “It seems that Anna has already begun issuing orders. Ah, she also says that you and her need to talk about why we waited so long to… never mind, you can talk to her yourself when we meet up.”

“Ah, that doesn’t sound super good.” I said, under my breath.

“All right we got ourselves another ship. Let’s get this tub moving!” Blake cheered, making the round em up gesture with his left hand, then he took the helm and the NRE ship began moving off towards our friends and the LDS.

I made my way to the small group of students and a round of handshakes, high fives, daps, and hugs were given. Only six kids made it from the other schools. Lancelot’s squad, which had Mordred and Nimue, and Kagero’s squad, which had Oburo, and Tomoe. Of course, the psycho ninja girl was here, SMH…

“Thanks for the help.” Lancelot said, walking up and pounding fists with me.

“You’d have done the same.” I said, brushing the compliment off.

“Yes, thank you Hiro, Justin, and to all of you.” Kagero said, walking up and bowing, followed by her squad members and the other RKP students.

After a few minutes we pulled up alongside the LDS and both our ships retreated at full speed. I watched from the stern as Warrior Academy shrunk in the distance. The Dreadnaught had docked at the Main Tower and the rest of the NRE-FAAG’s had stationed themselves around the school and town. I could see ABBA’s flying around the perimeter of the campus. They had taken over our school in less than thirty minutes. It was hard to believe. I replayed the events of the morning and what Lord Belmont had told us to do, then hardened my resolve.

“Tuki, we have a lot of work ahead of us.” I said to my sprite.

“You have the gift of understatement boss.” Tuki replied. “It reminds me of the old man.”

“Which one?” I asked.

“Both.” He replied.

We shared a quick laugh and then my mind drifted back to memories of my Master and Sensei. I thought about the training that was so difficult I thought I was going to die. Then something clicked in my mind and I knew what we had to do, what we all needed to do.

“Hiro, what the hell do you think you’re doing hiding Robyn from me…” Anna growled landing at my side.

“Anna good, you’re here. I have plan.” I said, turning to the beautiful Belmont girl and completely cutting her off.

“Wha… wha… what?” Anna stammered, my interrupting her throwing her off her angry tirade.

“I said, I have a plan. Gather everyone together, we should all discuss this.” I said, looking the girl right in the eyes to convey my seriousness.

“Alright.” Anna replied, looking at me a little askance but giving me the benefit of the doubt. “Let’s get somewhere a bit safer and then we will hold a meeting.”

“Thanks.” I said, staring back out at the now tiny school. “I know just the place.